World Bowling Tour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Abbreviation | WBT |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Texas |
Parent organization | World Bowling |
| Affiliations | World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) |
| Website | World Bowling Tour |
The World Bowling Tour, a major professional tour, unites bowlers from selected major professional and amateur organizations through a series of events organized by World Bowling.[1]
The World Bowling Tour's marquee event, the WTBA World Championships, attracts bowlers from over 50 countries. World Bowling Tour events include all the PBA Tour major tournaments. As a stepladder tournament, the season-ending World Bowling Tour Finals features the top three men, and top three women in the World Bowling Tour points standings.[2]
To participate in the World Bowling Tour, bowlers must be a member of one of the federations of the World Tenpin Bowling Association. The federations of the WTBA include:
- Professional Bowlers Association, which include the PBA Tour, PBA50, and PBA international;
- Professional Women's Bowling Association.
- Thai Tenpin Bowling Association;
- Korea Professional Bowlers Association;
- Japan Professional Bowling Association;
The winner of a WBT tournament can also earn credit for a PBA Tour title, as long as the bowler registered for the tournament beforehand as a professional.[3] International bowlers, bowlers who do not reside in the United States, can also join the PBA under its PBA International program. If a PBA International member wins a WBT tournament, he must upgrade to full membership of the PBA.[4]
